All these weeks of being near Michaela and not touching her the way I want to must be playing with my mind, because the only thing I feel at seeing her so close to Liam is arousal.

Maybe it’s because I know nothing’s going on between them, so I’m imagining myself in his place.

Maybe it’s that she looks phenomenal and I want to see what’s under that robe.

Whatever it is, the suspicion I felt when I saw him put a hand on her lower back earlier is nowhere to be found.

I talked with a few people, and he doesn’t do entanglements. He’s exactly what Mickey isn’t looking for right now. He’s too fast and loose.

That alone comforts me, because I know I have a better chance with her than he does, whatever happens.

The essential people move throughout the house, heading to the large back patio that ends just before the infinity pool starts.

I see Mickey standing in the same grey robe, only this time, it’s undone. She slides it off her shoulders. An assistant takes it and I nearly stop breathing right there.

Lord, help me.

She’s wearing a gauzy, smoky grey bra with black detailing, and matching high cut underwear. Lines on the warm tan skin of her hips are visible now, and I realize they’re stretch marks.

“She’s a vision, isn’t she?” I hear from my side and I turn my head slightly, not wanting to move my eyes from her.

It’s Liam, similarly pre-occupied.

“She is.” I agree, watching them brush some gold dust stuff over her shoulders.

“You two aren’t together, are you?”

“Mickey can be stubborn.”

“Hm, maybe she’s not ready to commit yet.” He says, and I force myself not to be bothered by it.

What does he know? They just met today.

“I can tell you she’s not into the way you play things.” I turn to him, taking in the Klein branded boxer briefs he has on.

The man has a nice body, I’ll give him that. It’s no surprise since up until last year, he was playing pro football. Clearly, he hasn’t slacked just because he’s not in the game anymore.

“And how do I play things?” His lips twitch and he crosses his arms. We’re the same height, give or take an inch or so.

But when I look him in the eye, there’s no challenge there. Not what I’d expect from a man asking about the woman he walked in on me kissing. He’s interested and he knows I’ve already got a stake in things, so what’s he playing at?

“You avoid relationships like the plague. You’re only into getting your rocks off, no connections and no complications.” I dip my head in Mickey’s direction. “That woman right there? She’s more than you can handle.”

“You know, she doesn’t have to choose. I’m fine lending a helping hand here and there.” We both turn back to look at her because it’s hard not to.

“What do you mean?” I murmur.

“Just two men giving a beautiful woman all the attention she can handle, no strings. You can handle the cuddling.”

I tamp down the immediate fire that roars through my veins at the image of Mickey out of her mind with pleasure, in favor of logic.

“I don’t think Michaela’s that type of woman, and I don’t share, for that matter. Not to mention it’s disrespectful for you to proposition me about something involving her when you don’t even know the nature of our relationship.”

“Hey man, just trying to be a good citizen.” He laughs. “Maybe you should ask her though. In my experience, women like Mickey don’t let themselves be tied down to one thing for long.” With that parting shot, he walks away and I shake my head.

I want to shake off what he’s said because I really don’t think Mickey would be into that.

But I don’t know the full the extent of her past. Hell, there’s a lot we don’t know about each other and she did hint at maybe a wilder past than I’m aware of.

Am I being stupid going in so blind?

All along, Mickey’s been reluctant to move things further with me. Yeah, she lets me kiss her and we talk on the phone for hours sometimes.

But that’s not a commitment.

She’s been showing me that she’s unsure about how she wants to go forward, and I’ve just been thinking she’ll eventually get over it.

That if I’m patient enough and just show her how much I want her, she’ll realize that I’m here to stay and get on board.

Could it be that I’ve spun this entire thing incorrectly in my head, and Liam is more what she wants right now?

Am I chasing something that’s not going to happen?

I watch her put her hands on Liam’s shoulders and cock her hip, tilting her face to the camera. His lips move, and her eyes drop from the camera to the ground. A little shiver goes through her that I wouldn’t have recognized if I hadn’t gotten the exact same reaction from her before.

Son-of-a-bitch.